Man United must sign World Cup star to fulfil Van Gaal’s values
Published:Holland’s run to the semi-finals of the World Cup will have excited Man United fans eager to see their new boss, Louis van Gaal, in action.
Two of the leading lights from that campaign, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, were rumoured to soon link up in the Old Trafford attack, with the former Chelsea man thought to be the top target to join his national strike partner in the summer.
However as a deal for the Bayern Munich flyer looks to less likely to occur as the transfer window creeps on, another of Van Gaal’s Dutch squad is emerging as a potentially vital buy for the 62-year-old.
Daley Blind perhaps didn’t grab as many headlines as his goal-getting teammates, but was a superb part of Holland’s adventure in Brazil, racking up three assists and scoring a goal himself in seven appearances.
It’s rumoured that the Red Devils are poised to make a £17m bid for the Ajax man and it could be argued that it’s he, rather than Robben, that would best compliment the philosophy Van Gaal would want to implement at United.
Holland played three at the back for the entire tournament in Brazil, with the son of Danny occupying the left wing-back role with aplomb.
Having sold Alex Buttner and Patrice Evra, Van Gaal now only has Luke Shaw to pick from defensively on that side of the pitch.
Blind’s arrival wouldn’t mean the two men couldn’t play in the same side though, as the 2014 Dutch Footballer of the Year is also able to play as a defensive midfielder, another position of the pitch in which Man Utd are short.
With Man United 11/2 to win the Premier League this season, a mark that makes them third favourites, many are expecting Van Gaal to have quite an impact on David Moyes’ former stutterers.
If the versatile Blind joins the squad, that impact has a far greater chance of being realised.
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